hello my name is rick i live in wisconsin i an new to RX-7 but not to cars and moding them. i had a 04 chevy cavalier LS 5-speed. but i totaled it. i am bored with FWD and a 240sx is to hot of a car right now. P.O.S's are going for over 2,500 on ebay and to find one in my area with a stick is crazy hard. saturday i am going to look at a rx-7 in the UP of MI. it has all the stuff that i need. cruise, a 5-speed, and LSD. i dont need any more. it is a 87 base. it is in my price range and it is close. now to my question. what can you do to a rotary engine to make more power. besides exhuast, intake, N20 and boost. i ask because there is no cam right? and no head or vaules. i can' spell get over it. i was told to stay away from rx-7's because they are kinda "odd *****". but what is the fun in it if its the same as every thing out there.

 

rotaries are very different. before you buy one, you may want to learn a little about how they work, and their unique needs. search the threads on this forum, and look at www.hostuffworks.com for a simple breakdown of how the rotary functions. the FC is a very fun and rewarding car to own, but be prepared for alot of work and maintainance...i reccomend doing your homework first, and talking to other owners.
good luck!

 

Yeah, like RXgirl7 said just do your research, fc's are a very rewarding car. also i noticed that you said it was a base model, and i'm pretty sure the base models didn't come with an lsd, when you go to look at the car look under it at the fill plug for the diff and if you see a tag that says it has an lsd on it, then you're good. also you can tell a base model cuz it has 4 lugs.

 

i thought the same thing but i had an 86 base parts car and it had LSD. i was very surprised.

 

its has 4 lugs. no power anything, inculding steering. i understand how a rotary works had that you have to check the oils a lot because it operates like a two cycle. and around 100,000 miles you need to replace the apex seals. basicly rebuild it. i know more then i seem to. i just would like to know what can be done to gain power. not that i have the money too i would just like to know what people have done in the past. oh and what size exhaust to run. and what cats are good because i heard of the RX-7's shooting flames out the back and turning the bumper into goo. if you guys couls redirect me to some good threads i would owe you great thanks.

 

the apex seals do not necesarilly have to be replaced at any given milage. if the engine is well maintained, they can run for upwards of 200k with no problems. the first thing you should do to gain power is do a full tune up on the car. spark plugs, wires, fluids, fix any vac leaks, adjust tps(tps can give you an erratic idle)make sure the aux ports are working properly. once everything works like new, the best way to get power out of a rotary is a good exhaust system(true duals are best on an na)

 

rebuilds after 100,000 miles is a stupid rumor that idiotic owners passed on who didnt take care of their car. The rotary can make it to 200,000 n problem if maintained well. For Turbo models, a lot of people upgrade to a full exhaust without porting the wastegate and get their motors blown, which a lot of people dont get it even after being told. For both NAs and Turbo Models, people don't know about the flooding issue that can happen from leaky injectors. ATF can clear a flooded engine, and fixing the problem will stop the flooding after being unflooded. But this forum has helped a lot of people, so things are a little better yet some people still do not learn. Just be ready to be the mechanic and expect problems different to pistons and being cured different from pistons. Good luck and enjoy the 7.

 

thanks guys i try to apply what i learn. at most people at other sites tell i don't spell right and to search the site. where can i get a manifold or header to run ture duals. and what size exhuast. what cats are good. the more info the better. i don't mind getting my hands dirty. i plan to go to school this fall and major in automotive engreeing. what would kinda maintness is required. or will it be in the owners manual. or links are good

 

A base 1987 RX-7 didn't come with an LSD according to the "What did my rx7 come with from the facroty?" sticky at the top of this forum.

 

Matenance wise

Lots of oil.
Check oil just about every gas up. Fill it when it's low(about every 1k miles) change it every 3kmiles. Oil is the most common matenance problem. Rotaries are sensetive. Like Rx7girl said, do your homework. I'm still pretty new to my Rx-7 as well (3 months). I hope you like what you see and if you pick one up enjoy it. You will love it's uniqueness, you already seem to have the idea down. People who ask if they should get an rx7 or "......." if you have to ask, it isn't for you and your not buying it for the rotary. I'm happy you want to get your hands dirty and take care of a unique and fun sports car. I say go for it and you will be happy you did.

 

what kinda of oil is best. natural? sync? i know it has four wheel disc brakes. thank god. i am going to look at it in the afternoon saturday. i would like to turbo it i have a T3 that i was going to put on my cavalier.

 

oh and what does that LSD tag say on it ??

 

It'll say use LSD oil only or something. Anyway, welcome. Um, yea try to do a tune up. Replace spark plugs/lines, check TPS, fluids, etc. FAQ is is your friend.

 

Don't run synthetic! The carbon will build up and dammage the seals.

 

Welcome and with the right maintance, youll be happy with your choice...

If you just simply keep your engine Lubed and Cooled... the thing should live well past 200,000... asuming it wasnt beat on or that the Oil Metering Pump is in working order(Search it and make sure its working!!!) and also, Please do not use Sinthetic oils or Oil Additives... Quite litteraly they will gum up the engine and "could" potentialy be the death of it...

Definatly read the stickys at the top of the page... it will clear up alot of misconseptions about the novel Rotary Engine

Also Dont let it sit for too long (i dont think thats a common problem here though )

 

Definitely read the FAQs, in your case the section on what you should look for when buying. Don't get scared by the posters that flame you at the drop of a pin because there are quite a few very helpful people here.

If you're good with cars and willing to learn I can see no reason why you would have any difficulties with RX-7s.

As far as power goes, from what I've heard there exist 600 and 700 HP sevens, usually through increasing airflow all around, from what I gather.

Good luck and have fun.

-Goofy

 

no noehas been mean to him in this thread.

 

*starts to post and stops*

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/attention-all-search-nazis-newbie-flamers-how-not-get-banned-515147/



Welcome to the forum!!!!!

 

Actually, Synthetic is fine. But it depends on what brands you get it from. Back then in the late 80s, early 90s, the synthetic oils are not what they are today. Oils have taken a dramatic change since then. Its over 15+ years ago. There is a special synthetic oil made especially only for rotaries called "Idemitsu", and it is whats recommended in Japan. The hard thing about it is that its hard to find and expensive here in the US. Mazdatrix sells them for $7.50 a qt and $84.00 a 12 qt pack. Royal Purple is also a brand oil that was designed to work with the rotary and explains on their website why it works with the rotary. One of the top representives of Mazda said that Royal Purple is good on a Rotary at sevenstock. All big name performance rotary shops and aftermarket companies such as Racing Beat, Mazdatrix, etc. recommend synthetic oils and including MAZDASPEED itself. It just depends what brand you get. Every brand is different and has its own copyrighted additives. I hear from other owners that Mobil 1 runs like **** on a rotary and but is good for pistons. I've been using Royal Purple for a while now and its been working good and I can feel the added power. My Oil is in great shape and still looking purple. Compression is good for my low mileage getting 95 psi 92 rear. and I have smashed the throttle at least 30 times to show my friends and families how fast the rotary is as well as racing it against a s2000. and yet, I still have the same compression, and still feels just as fast as it has been.

Oh yea, and how much power are you expecting. For a NA, it is possible to get to 200hp with the right mods and good tuning, but its gonna cost some money to get there. If your looking for a real fast car that has good possibilities to hit under 10sec, then get a Turbo model. With full exhaust and intake with 2 more psi, you are easily in the 13sec. club. Look at my mods, my car just beat a s2000 not too long ago and it still has the stock catback. If you wanna go NA, its cool, NA's are nice and not bad for speed and are more reliable. Good luck with finding a Rx-7 of your choice. And make sure you are positive you want to keep the car after a lot of research.

 

if you want boost then just buy a t2 because it will be a lot more easier. i thought the same thing before i got my n/a that i could just slap a turbo on it. read around about turbo swaps and that it can be very difficult to swap a turbo motor, transmission, wire harness etc etc. but then again some people will tell you its simple

 

how hard is it to get 200 whp out of a 87 N/A???

 

BOO TO THE PISTONS. YAY to the rotary! welcome

 

Very hard. You would need a ported engine. A good exhaust. A fuel controller; preferably a standalone, but an SAFC would help. Also porting the intake manifold and making a cold air intake.

 

so will megasquirt run on the rotary's. and with it help to put the tII intake manifold on or will it even bolt up. i have a t3 sitting around the shop.

 

search for "Beefy NA " and search for NA Turbo conversion.